Usually, voters picking a coach of the year are drawn to someone who got the most out of an undermanned group. Like Barry Trotz does annually in Nashville or Dan Bylsma did with a Pittsburgh team missing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

But for the GMs and coaches picking SN’s NHL coach of the year, it was impossible to ignore what Alain Vigneault accomplished with a loaded Canucks team that was a Stanley Cup favorite during the preseason. He received 21 of the 31 votes.

The Canucks had more than their share of injuries on defense, and still Vigneault guided them to the Presidents’ Trophy. They had the league’s best power play and the third-best penalty kill. During a time when parity reigns, the Canucks were considerably better than every other team during the regular season.

Vigneault’s secret?

“He knows what we have in that locker room, and he doesn’t try to over coach,” goalie Cory Schneider says. “He lets us take responsibility and accountability. Other than that, when we do something wrong, he lets us know and cracks the whip. It’s a good give and take, and he runs the machine efficiently.”